Five Things to Know About Flu Season
The time has come again to protect yourself from the cold and flu season. While the best way to prevent the seasonal flu is to get a vaccination, good health habits can also help stop germs spreading in your household. Learn the answers to five common questions about the flu vaccination and a few helpful tips for staying healthy this season.
WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS TO WATCH OUT FOR DURING FLU SEASON?
Though it may be hard to decipher if sudden symptoms are the flu or a nasty cold, we’ve listed some of the most common flu symptoms below. What else may indicate that you have come down with the flu? One common factor to be aware of is the sudden onset of flu symptoms. So, if you or your loved one quickly or unexpectedly experience a combination of the following symptoms, it’s quite possible that the flu has stopped by for a visit.
Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Muscle aches
Chills
Headache
Tiredness
Runny or stuffy nose
Children may also have vomiting and diarrhea.
WHEN DOES FLU SEASON START?
Typically, people associate the winter with “flu season,” but did you know it is possible to contract influenza anytime during the year? Cases of the flu begin to increase in October and peak between December and February. In Texas, flu activity can hang around through May, so it is always important to practice the health tips we share below.
WHO SHOULD BE VACCINATED?
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) recommends that Texans who are six months of age and older get the flu shot by the end of October. Being vaccinated is especially important for people who are more at risk of severe complications, such as young children, people 65 and older, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions.
CAN I GET THE FLU FROM THE VACCINE?
No, flu vaccines cannot cause the flu. Although you may feel your body’s immune system respond to the vaccine, the flu vaccine contains an inactive virus.
Your body’s immune system response can cause soreness or redness at the site of injection, headache, fever, nausea or muscle aches. While inconvenient or uncomfortable, patients who are hesitant to get vaccinated do not, in fact, need to be concerned about these reactions. This response is healthy and lets you know that your immune system is working properly.
HOW SOON DOES THE VACCINE WORK?
The vaccine can take up to two weeks to build up in your body. Try to get your vaccine early in the season to allow your body time to build up immunity to the virus. If you are exposed to the virus before getting the vaccine or within two weeks of getting the shot, you can still get the flu or flu-like symptoms, so it’s essential to get your shot early.
DO I NEED THE VACCINE EVERY YEAR?
The vaccine is only suitable for the flu season when it is taken and is specifically developed to prevent the influenza viruses that are expected to be most prevalent that year. Each year, the strains of the vaccine change. The 2024 flu season’s vaccine covers the flu A(H!)A(H1) virus, a flu A(H3) virus, the flu B/Yamagata lineage virus and the flu B/Victoria lineage virus.
MORE HEALTHY TIPS TO AVOID THE SPREAD OF GERMS:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Make sure you cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
Wash your hands often with soap and water
Get 30 minutes of exercise per day
Eat two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables every day
Do you have other concerns or questions about staying healthy during flu season? One of the benefits of Direct Primary Care at Aspire Family Medical in Liberty Hill, TX, is the ability to speak directly with your provider. Kerstin Gillespie and the staff at Aspire Family Medical are ready to answer all your questions about the upcoming cold and flu season. Schedule your annual health and wellness visit today to ensure your health is in check before peak flu season arrives.
For More Flu Info: https://howdyhealth.tamu.edu/flu-season/
https://www.texashealth.org/Health-and-Wellness/Women-and-Infants/Understanding-the-Flu
Kerstin Gillespie, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Founder of Aspire Family Medical
Kerstin’s provides Direct Primary Care at Aspire Family Medical. Her goal is to help her patients improve their wellness and health literacy, so that they are making informed decisions about their care. She loves getting to know her patients and aspires to treat them just like her family.